A sober discourse of right to church-communion

It is concluded by all Orthodox Writers, that the Rise of Antichrist was by Degrees; first encroaching by one Invention, and then from time to time super-adding another; which is indeed no wonder, for if a Church once swerves from the Rule in one thing, a Foundation is thereby laid of doing so in many things. And for this Reason the Apostle with great Earnestness charges, ^*Timothy, and in him all Saints, thus, I give thee charge in the sight of God, &c. That thou keep this Commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the Appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ. The Apostle had in this Epistle been instructing Timothy about Church-Worship, and things rela•ing to Prayer, Eldership, ⟨p. 55⟩dealing with Members, &c. And therefore concludes, I charge thee to keep this Commandment; that is, that which he all along in the Epistle directed and pressed with so weighty Arguments: As if he had said, It is your indispensable Duty to be careful in this, because, as 'tis expressed vers. 15, 16. In his own time he shall show who is the blessed and only Potentate, &c. Jesus Christ hath given Gospel-Worship to his Church, as King of his Church: The Potentates of the World show their power in nothing more then in keeping those who are employed by them to the strict Observation of the Commissions given to them; So that if an Ambassador goes beyond his Commission, he forfeits his Head; and therefore if any Thing be demanded, or any Particular offered in order to a Treaty, which is not in their Commission, they usually answer, I have no Commission to ⟨p. 56⟩answer or meddle with this or that point. Now saith the Apostle, Keep the Commandment blameless without Spot: Jesus Christ is King of Kings, and Lord of Lords, the only Potentate, and in his time he will show it, and Examine by what Commission from him they have done what they have done and Practiced, and will ask this great Question, Who hath Required this at your hands? what satisfactory answer can any man give, if such a thing be allowed? If you ask a Rule for Baptizing Children, may not such a Person Demand where your Rule is for Unbaptized Persons to Receive the Lords Supper?

It is concluded by all Orthodox Writers, that the Rise of Antichrist was by Degrees; first encroaching by one Invention, and then from time to time super-adding another; which is indeed no wonder, for if a Church once swerves from the Rule in one thing, a Foundation is thereby laid of doing so in many things. And for this Reason the Apostle with great Earnestness charges,